Electromagnetic induction heat generating roller, heating device, and image forming apparatus

• US 20050152720A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 07/14/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Katakabe, Noboru, Imai, Masaru, Fujimoto, Keisuke
• Granted Patent: US 7,194,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 399/330
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2053 Structural details of heat elements, e.g. structure of roller or belt, eddy current, induction heating
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/2057 relating to the chemical composition of the heat element and layers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/2016 Heating belt
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/2029 the belt further entrained around one or more stationary belt support members, the latter not being a cooling device
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/2032 the belt further entrained around additional rotating belt support members
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 6/145 Heated rollers

Abstract

An electromagnetic induced heating roller (21) comprises a core member (24), an elastic layer (23), induction heating layer (22), and a mold release layer in this order from inside to outside. Further, a magnetic shield layer for preventing a magnetic flux from penetrating into the core member (24) is interposed between the induction heating layer (22) and the core member (24). Out of an alternating magnetic field from a magnetic field generating means, a leakage flux having penetrated through the induction heating layer (22) is trapped by the magnetic shield layer. As a result, most of the impressed alternating magnetic flux is consumed for heating the heating layer (22), resulting in an improvement in the heating efficiency. A trouble is prevented which is generated by heating the bearing of the core member (24).

Claims

1. An electromagnetic induction heat generating roller comprising a core material, an elastic layer, an induction heat generating layer, and a mold releasing layer, which are provided outwardly in this order,

wherein a magnetism shielding layer that prevents entry of magnetic flux into the core material is provided between the induction heat generating layer and the core material.

2. The electromagnetic induction heat generating roller according to claim 1,

wherein the magnetism shielding layer has a specific resistance of 10⁻

3 Ω

cm or higher.

3. The electromagnetic induction heat generating roller according to claim 1,

wherein the magnetism shielding layer has a relative magnetic permeability of 10 or higher.

4. The electromagnetic induction heat generating roller according to claim 1,

wherein the magnetism shielding layer has a thickness of not less than 0.2 mm.

5. The electromagnetic induction heat generating roller according to claim 1,

wherein the magnetism shielding layer is a layer of an insulating magnetic material formed on a surface of the core material.

6. The electromagnetic induction heat generating roller according to claim 1,

wherein the magnetism shielding layer is composed of a plurality of rings or arc-shaped members that are arranged in rows on a surface of the core material.

7. The electromagnetic induction heat generating roller according to claim 1,

wherein the magnetism shielding layer is the elastic layer in which a magnetic filler is dispersed.

8. The electromagnetic induction heat generating roller according to claim 1,

wherein the core material is formed from a non-magnetic metal.

9. The electromagnetic induction heat generating roller according to claim 1,

wherein the induction heat generating layer has a thickness not larger than a skin depth.

10. A heating device, comprising:

an electromagnetic induction heat generating roller as claimed in claim 1;

a pressing roller that is in contact under pressure with the electromagnetic induction heat generating roller so as to form a nip part; and

a magnetic field generating unit that applies a magnetic field to the induction heat generating layer of the electromagnetic induction heat generating roller so that the induction heat generating layer generates heat by induction,

wherein a material to be heated introduced into the nip part is conveyed under pressure by the electromagnetic induction heat generating roller and the pressing roller so as to be heated continuously.

13. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a recording material; and

a heating device as claimed in claim 10,

wherein the toner image to be fixed formed on the recording material by the image forming unit is fixed on the recording material by the heating device.

11. A heating device, comprising:

an electromagnetic induction heat generating belt having an induction heat generating layer;

a supporting roller that is composed of a core material and a heat insulating layer provided on an outer side of the core material and makes contact internally with the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt so that the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt is supported rotatably;

a pressing roller that makes contact externally with the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt so that a nip part is formed between the pressing roller and the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt; and

a magnetic field generating unit that is disposed outside the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt and applies a magnetic field to the induction heat generating layer so that the induction heat generating layer generates heat by induction,

wherein a material to be heated introduced into the nip part is conveyed under pressure by the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt and the pressing roller so as to be heated continuously, and

in the supporting roller, a magnetism shielding layer that prevents entry of magnetic flux into the core material is provided on an outer side of the core material.

12. The heating device according to claim 11,

wherein the magnetism shielding layer is formed on a surface of the supporting roller.

14. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a recording material; and

a heating device as claimed in claim 11,

wherein the toner image to be fixed formed on the recording material by the image forming unit is fixed on the recording material by the heating device.

15. A heating device, comprising:

an electromagnetic induction heat generating belt having an induction heat generating layer;

a metallic member that is disposed inside a loop of the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt;

a pressing roller that makes contact externally with the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt so that a nip part is formed between the pressing roller and the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt; and

a magnetic field generating unit that is disposed outside the loop of the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt and applies a magnetic field to the induction heat generating layer so that the induction heat generating layer generates heat by induction,

wherein a material to be heated introduced into the nip part is conveyed under pressure by the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt and the pressing roller so as to be heated continuously, and

a magnetism shielding member that prevents entry of magnetic flux into the metallic member further is provided between the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt and the metallic member.

16. The heating device according to claim 15,

wherein the magnetism shielding member is provided so as to cover the metallic member.

17. The heating device according to claim 15,

wherein the magnetism shielding member has a relative magnetic permeability higher than a relative magnetic permeability of the metallic member.

18. The heating device according to claim 15,

wherein the magnetism shielding member has a relative magnetic permeability of 10 or higher.

19. The heating device according to claim 15,

wherein the magnetism shielding member has a relative magnetic permeability of 15 or higher.

20. The heating device according to claim 15,

wherein the magnetism shielding member has a thickness of not less than 0.2 mm.

21. The heating device according to claim 15,

wherein the magnetism shielding member has a thickness of not less than 0.5 mm.

22. The heating device according to claim 15,

wherein the magnetism shielding member has a specific resistance value of 10⁻

3 Ω

m or higher.

23. The heating device according to claim 15,

wherein the metallic member is formed from a magnetic metal or a non-magnetic metal.

24. The heating device according to claim 15,

wherein a heat insulating member further is provided between the metallic member and the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt.

25. The heating device according to claim 24,

wherein the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt is pressed against the pressing roller by the metallic member through the heat insulating member.

26. The heating device according to claim 15,

wherein the metallic member is provided in a member that makes contact internally with the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt.

27. The heating device according to claim 26,

wherein the member that makes contact internally with the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt is a supporting roller that supports the electromagnetic induction heat generating belt, and the metallic member is a core material of the supporting roller.

28. An image forming apparatus, comprising:

an image forming unit that forms a toner image on a recording material; and

a heating device as claimed in claim 15,

wherein the toner image to be fixed formed on the recording material by the image forming unit is fixed on the recording material by the heating device.